'Hic.'
Julia looked around, trying not to look below his sculpted, tightly packed abs or below his waist, where only a towel was draped.
Meanwhile, Endymion didn't open his mouth at all, and a strangely tense silence developed between the two.
"..."
"..."
Oh, how do I fix this?
Julia, whose throat was parched, finally let it out.
"Well, I mean. I don't think you want to share a room with me!"
"It's because there are no double rooms."
"But you backed down too easily!"
The conversation got tangled up because things came out completely different from what she had originally intended. Julia also had no idea what she was talking about.
"This just sounds like you're throwing a tantrum about why I didn't come to your room!"
Julia looked as if she was ruined, but Endymion opened his mouth in a soothing voice.
"I did that because I thought you'd hate it if I went."
You say 'I don't like it'? Julia blinked in surprise.
"Me? You? No..."
At those words, Endymion closed his eyes and smiled charmingly. But, as usual, he did not say that he would go to her room right away.
As if they were deliberately keeping their distance.
Julia felt saddened by that thought. stuck her mouth out in a sulk.
"You seem a bit different today than usual."
"What's different?"
I tried poking him lightly, but Endymion just tilted his head. It was strange why he was drawing a line now when he was usually so forthcoming.
Eventually, Julia got upset and impulsively revealed her original intention.
"At the market earlier, you smiled at a strange woman while buying something from a tent!"
"When did I... ah."
Endymion interrupted as if he had just realized something.
'I don't know, it's a do or die situation now!'
I felt embarrassed because I seemed to be fixated on such trivial things, but it was better because if I didn't ask, I would keep thinking about it!
Julia strained her eyes and held on tight, justifying herself. Then, suddenly, a calm voice was heard.
"I'm sorry. I guess I did it unconsciously. I shouldn't have laughed in front of any other woman besides you."
Endymion apologized earnestly. Julia was taken aback by the clean and quick admission and asked.
"You laughed unconsciously? Why?"
"Well, I guess I was just satisfied with finding what I was looking for. To be honest, I also remembered that the owner was a woman because you just mentioned it."
There was not the slightest hint of any other intention. Just as Endymion knew her through and through. Julia, who knew him well, read every word as if it were sincere.
'What, what? It was really just a coincidence?'
Julia, who was confirmed to have been a misunderstanding, opened her lips in confusion. Then, suddenly.
"...Then why didn't you answer when I asked what you bought?"
If you didn't do it on purpose, why did you hide the fact that you bought it? There's no reason to do that.
Julia looked at Endymion with a puzzled look. Endymion looked slightly troubled.
"Why? What is it?"
I don't think it's for the reason I misunderstood. Why are you acting like that?
Julia asked, pulling herself forward as if urging him to do so. The knees of the two sitting across from each other slightly touched. Endymion glanced down at it and then stood up.
"Just wait a minute."
And then he disappeared for a few minutes and came back. Endymion, who seemed to have been to the living room and bathroom, was holding a small, pillow-sized water bottle in his hand.
"Uh?"
Endymion placed it on Julia's waist. Julia, who had been given the steaming hot water bottle in a panic, looked at it as if wondering what it was.
"Because you don't look well."
Endymion, who had sat down on his chair again, asked if her back pain had gotten any better. His voice was affectionate yet worried. Julia stared at him in amazement and then suddenly realized the meaning.
"You knew?"
The water bag wrapped around her waist effectively reduced the pain of the scrotum. He pinpointed the exact location and timing of the pain.
"Yes."
"Uh, how...?"
Julia asked in a mosquito-like voice, looking puzzled.
"You seemed sensitive all day, and your back seemed to hurt. Sometimes your cycle changes after the first time, so I thought it started a little early this time."
Julia stuck out her tongue as she listened to the story blankly. She said he was fast, but he didn't know he would be this quick-witted.
'Even I didn't know until just now... Huh?'
Julia looked around cautiously.
"This time, it's a little faster?"
When asked again to confirm, Endymion nodded. Julia froze and stuttered.
"You did you know about my, my cycle...?"
"Yeah. Ever since I was 16."
Endymion said calmly, as if he didn't know.
"The Queen's health condition is also shared with the King. You must know about my health condition as well, right?"
I didn't know that my cycle would be shared!
Julia blushed and groaned. But Endymion rested his chin on the arm of his chair and studied her closely.
"Your complexion seems to have improved a bit since the daytime. Are the pockets usable?"
"Uh, yeah."
Julia nodded hastily, stuttering. She glanced at him, holding the tightly sealed thermos flask close to her chest.
'There's really nothing you don't know about me.'
Underwear measurements. Magical abilities. Period...
Her face felt flushed, and her heart pounded hard. As if she had never felt sad or cried before, warmth spread throughout her body, and her mood instantly improved.
"You feel better, my Queen."
Endymion rested his chin on his hand, smiling. Julia, startled, took a sharp breath.
'If this continues, won't my true feelings be revealed?!"
It seemed possible for Endymion. Julia averted her gaze, hugging the water bottle tightly.
"Hmm, hmm. So, did you buy this bag because I had a backache?"
"They say that if you put something warm on it, the pain will be less. I was worried because I couldn't find anything suitable, but then I saw something suitable at the market and bought it."
So, you laughed because you thought it would be nice if you gave it to me when you bought it.
Julia understood immediately and laughed bashfully. She felt like an idiot for digging the ground alone. If she had known this would happen, she would have asked him outright earlier!
"Were you worried that I laughed at another woman?"
Endymion asked, as if he found it amusing, watching Julia change every moment. Julia, whose true feelings were revealed, almost bit her tongue and waved her hand.
"That's not it."
"That's what you came in to ask."
"I said no."
Julia tried to ignore it, but Endymion's eyes lit up with a knowing expression.
"I'll clean it up for you. I was thinking about something else while buying the water bottle and ended up smiling unconsciously. The reason I agreed to share a room with you is because there are no double rooms and you are sensitive because of your period. I was worried that you might be uncomfortable if I were to share a single room with you."
Julia nodded, holding the warm water bottle tightly to her chest. Her mind was instantly relieved by the clear explanation. Her mood was as if she was flying into the sky, and she couldn't stop smiling.
"Yes, I understand. Sorry, I won't misunderstand anymore."
"I guess you really misunderstood. And you even apologized?"
A soft voice pricked Julia's conscience. Julia slowly averted her gaze and moved to the end of the bed.
"Where are you going?"
But she was immediately stopped by Endymion. Julia, whose face turned bright red with embarrassment, hesitated and shut her eyes tightly.
"If you came crying, you must have been very worried?"
"Well, of course. Since you suddenly started doing things you normally don't do."
Julia reluctantly responded to his persistent questioning. Endymion smiled even more earnestly.
"It makes me feel so good when you're jealous."
Endymion looked deeply into Julia's eyes, muttering in wonder. Her moist purple eyes, framed by golden eyelashes, widened.
"...What?"
"That's right, jealousy."
Endymion smiled his characteristic boyish smile, and his blue eyes and handsome face became even more beautiful.
'...'
Julia's heart, rescued from depression, began to beat rapidly as if it had been reborn. It trembled and tickled even though she hadn't touched it with a single fingertip. Even though it was a familiar face, as if she was looking at a mirror, she felt excited, and her body temperature rose as if a spark had been lit.
Julia realized that her mood swings weren't necessarily due to the period. That's why she felt strangely awkward and tense around Endymion these days.
'Because I like you.'
With a different heart than friends or family.
The relationship between the two, who have shared even their breathing for 12 years, has always been stable and comfortable. On the contrary, the emotions that have come to her recently have made her anxious and worried. It was so unfamiliar that she had been flustered until now.
'But now.'
Julia no longer tried to force her heart to beat faster. Of course, she was still nervous and trembling. She was afraid of losing it, and she was anxious that it might change like today.
'... It's okay, though.'
The old Julia had thought that she didn't want to lose her sense of security with Endymion.
She thought that a calm and comfortable relationship was perfect, and she wanted to live like that forever. That's why she couldn't say anything out loud, even though she knew that their relationship had changed.
She's so scared and afraid of this overwhelming emotion that shakes up her entire life.
But Julia finally realized that this anxious and yearning feeling was what bound them together more than anything else.
'It's gotten too big to hide.'
Julia bit her lips lightly and let go.
Then... will it be less shaky if I reveal it?
Endymion continued speaking listlessly, not knowing anything.
"I thought you wouldn't be jealous."
"I like you."
Endymion stopped talking. But he didn't seem to understand yet, and other than his eyes widening slightly, he showed no reaction.
Julia spoke a little louder, her heart pounding with excitement.
"I like you, Mion."
She guesses emotional changes also mean being more daring than usual. Julia was more honest with her emotions than usual.
"...I think I like you."
The round cheeks that confessed were ripe and lovely like apples. Julia hesitantly lowered her gaze, hugging the water bottle like a doll. And then she continued speaking.
"Well, um... So the reason I was so sensitive today is that I like you. Don't misunderstand. I'm sorry if you were upset because of me..."
The water bag was pulled out of her arms. Julia looked up in surprise, and a pair of blazing blue eyes approached her with overwhelming force.
"Huh."
Julia took a deep breath. Endymion chuckled briefly at her frightened deer-like appearance, then he picked her up carefully but quickly and laid her down in the middle of the bed.
"... If you're sorry, say it again."
Then he sat on the floor, resting his chin on the edge of the bed, and urged her on. Julia opened her mouth, dumbfounded.
"Sorry?"
"Not that one."
"I like you?"
"Yeah, that one."
His charming lips smiled contentedly.
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